badinage

[ bad-n-ahzh, bad-n-ij ]

noun

1. light, playful banter or raillery.

verb (used with object)

, bad·i·naged, bad·i·nag·ing.

1. to banter with or tease (someone) playfully.

badinage

/ ˈbædɪˌnɑːʒ /

noun

1. playful or frivolous repartee or banter

Word History and Origins

Origin of badinage¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from French, equivalent to badin(er) “to joke, trifle” (verbal derivative of badin “joker, banterer,” from Old Provençal bad(ar) “to gape” or directly from Vulgar Latin batāre; bay ² ) + -in, from Latin -īnus -ine ¹ ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of badinage¹

C17: from French, from badiner to jest, banter, from Old Provençal badar to gape

Example Sentences

Going back, Liszt indulged in a little graceful badinage apropos of the concerto.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt the pathos of her black gown; but she had rallied from the first shock of her sorrow, and met him in his key of badinage.

From Project Gutenberg

He challenged me, in badinage, as though he had a right to say who should visit Wardour.

From Project Gutenberg

I could not be annoyed at this mingling of praise and badinage, especially when she relieved me from all sense of intrusion.

From Project Gutenberg

What badinage to toss into the face of a man who had braved death upon a hundred battle-fields and all for "loyalty!"

From Project Gutenberg